Three Albright College students joined peers from across the country this spring to interact with experts and public figures, explore different career paths and go behind the scenes of key organizations during a week-long Inside Washington seminar in Washington, D.C. With the help Albright’s Experiential Learning and Career Development Center, all three students were able to participate in the experience, fully funded.
The bipartisan Washington Center program’s aim is to help college students understand the impact of the political process and see how they can each play a role in shaping democracy as citizens, students and professionals.
“I really enjoyed the Inside Washington Seminar and I would recommend applying to anyone in college,” said Terrell Barr of Philadelphia, Pa., who is pursuing a co-major in Communications: Public Relations & Advertising and Computer Science at Albright.
“It was an unforgettable experience. We met people that worked for Barack Obama, NBC, the Pentagon, the secret service and a bunch more. Everyone there was very friendly, I was able to connect with a bunch of students from other schools. It was really interesting to hear what they’ve learned and studied.”
Gregory Hammond of Philadelphia, Pa., studying Business Administration: Sport Management at Albright said that the immersive experience broadened his perspective on governance and sparked passions for civic engagement.
“Every weekday we attended morning seminars and workshops led by experts, providing insights into various topics/fields such as politics, policy and international relations,” explained Hammond. “Over the weekend we had time to ourselves and had the chance to explore the city on our own, visiting a few museums, seeing iconic landmarks, and trying some of the food in the area. There were many networking opportunities as students connected with each other and with the visiting professionals.”
Michael Cole-Thomas of Philadelphia, Pa., studying Business Administration: Sport Management at Albright pointed out that the incredibly diverse 300+ student participants weren’t all majoring in political science.
“Some people wanted to become journalists, a few wanted to become politicians, and others simply wanted to protect our democracy,” said Cole-Thomas. “I went because I saw an opportunity to expand my horizons, network with people from different backgrounds, and to soak up as much knowledge as possible. I am thankful for the experience and recommend anyone to take advantage of this opportunity.”
